Billy

The billy is a pot, usually with a swinging handle.

Boots

Comfortable boots are a must have. The best boots depend alot on what you want to do but in general the more rugged the surrounds the tougher your boots will need to be. Suede boots may be fine for easier and medium weekend trips where no river crossings or snow is expected but go leather for anything else. A good tramping boot has a solid sole and protects your ankles.

Bowl and spoon

Tramping is not the time to go on a diet. Helpings at dinner tend to be large and so should your bowl. You'll find a fork next to useless whereas a spoon is both useful and no fork will save some weight. A spork might be useful if you really can't do without your fork. Your bowl can also double as your cup but feel free to bring a separate cup if need be.

Clothes for tramping

Clothing obviously depends on the time of the year your travelling however always dress for the worst possible conditions. Even in the middle of summer I take along a warm jersey and have found myself using it on a number of occasions. If its cold then the trick is to think in terms of layers. You'll be warmer wearing two medium layers then one thick one. You should avoid cotton in winter as it provides no warmth when it gets wet, instead look for wool, polypropoline or marino for the layer next the the skin and wool or polar fleece jackets. A typical summer tramp would include shorts, tee-shirt and some warmer clothes just in case. In winter longjohns (usually with shorts over the top to keep the PG rating), a warm tee shirt and a few layers on top. Its fairly usual to expect to stop after a few hundred meters to remove clothes in winter.

First Aid Kit

Go here to take a look at whats needed in the first aid kit.

Food

As I mentioned when discussing your bowl, a tramp is not the time to diet so make sure you've got all the main meals covered plus plenty of snacks. Weight is always a consideration with food so try to go for food thats light to carry but absorbs water such as pasta and rice. Another important consideration is whether food needs to be heated. For breakfast I usually go for weetbix (cerial) with powdered milk and a little sugar. I've seen others have porridge, instant mashed spuds etc. Lunch is usually buns with salami and cheese although hot-cross buns are my top pick when its easter season. As mentioned above meals are pasta and rice. Snacks include scroggin, chocolate and dried fruits.

Knife

I've listed your knife as a must have because of its share usefulness in so many situations. I usually carry two, one in my pack and the other in my first aid kit just in case. I carry Swiss Army type knives because they are safer and won't cut a hole in the side of your pack when there loose in a pocket. I usually aim for the middle of the range in terms of cost and features with the most important features being a good knife, toothpick, tweezers and scissors. The rest might occasionally be useful but I certainly wouldn't pick a knife just because, for example, it has a spoon. I also know some trampers who carry hunting knives but aside from "thats not a knife, this is a knife" type comments don't see them being used for much fore then cutting cheese at lunch stops.

Lighter

The humble lighter is one of those things you'll only miss when you don't have one. Useful for such important jobs as lighting fires, candles and your stove. I've also used matches tramping but for the extra few cents a lighter is easier to store and not so prone to getting wet.

Lighter

The humble lighter is one of those things you'll only miss when you don't have one. Useful for such important jobs as lighting fires, candles and your stove. I've also used matches tramping but for the extra few cents a lighter is easier to store and not so prone to getting wet.